Apparatus for spraying terminals onto the ends of wound condensers



5 Sheets-Sheet l E. F. Esi-:R ETAL Dec. 23, 1952 APPARATUS FOR SRAYINGTERMINALS ONTO THE ENDS OF WOUND CONDENSERS Filed March 30 1950 F EGE/2CE. EHSMUSSEN TTy1 Dec. 23, 1952 E. F. EGER ETAL 2,622,554

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING TERMINALS ONTO THE ENDS OF' WOUND CONDENSERSFiled March 50, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I /M/f/vm/FS E E 65@ C@ /ASMUSSE/vDec. 23, 1952 E. F. EGER ET Al. 2,622,554

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING TERMINALS oNTo THE ENDS oF wouND coNDENsERs FiledMarch 550, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1952 E. F. EGER ETAL.

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING TERMINALS ONTO THE ENDS OF WOUND CONDENSERS FiledMarch 30, 1950 5 yShee'r.s-Sheet 4 5 N e E N60 N,.

/fgm E C,

Dec. 23, `1952A E. F. EGEB. Erm.

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING TERMINALS OTO THE ENDS OF WOUND CONDENSERS FiledMarch 30, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 TIHII FIG.

2 5 N. w.. K LM m M New EE V .wr/.5 .y -M .1-.. C fnmq Patented Dec. 23,1952 APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING TERMINALS ONTO THE ENDS OF WOUND CONDENSERSEdward F. Eger, Chicago, and Clarence R. Rasmussen, La Grange, Ill.,assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application March 30, 1950, Serial No. 152,935

11 Claims. l

This invention relates to a spraying machine and more particularly to aspraying apparatus having mechanism for reciprocating a fixture in thepath of a solder spray and for changing the level of said xture for eachreciprocation to spray molten solder onto portions of a plurality ofcondensers arranged in superposed rows in the fixture.

An object of the present invention is to provide an eiicient andeffective spraying machine for reciprocating a plurality of articles atdifferent levels past a spray gun, and to automatically spray materialonto the articles.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus isprovided with a stationary spray gun for directing a spray of moltensolder in one direction, and has a carrier movable transversely to thedirection of the spray for carrying a iiXture into the path of thespray, the carrier being mounted for horizontal reciprocation through apredetermined distance on an elevator which is automatically raised orlowered at the end of each horizontal movement of the carrier toposition the carrier and the fixture thereon at a plurality of diiierentlevels as it traverses said predetermined distance to cause the moltensolder to be sprayed onto the ends of a plurality of condensers arrangedin a plurality of parallel and superposed rows in the xture and inalignment with a plurality of parallel slots in the Wall in the xture,through which portions of the end of the condensers are exposed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent byreference to the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevational View of thespraying apparatus showing the elevator in its lowermost position andthe carriage with a condenser holding fixture thereon in its startingposition on the elevator;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevational View of theportion of the spraying apparatus showing the carriage and elevator inchanged positions;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary Vertical cross-sectional view of the apparatustaken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical cross-sectional View of a portion of theapparatus taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a detailed elevational view of a portion of the apparatusindicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. l and showing the cams for raising andlowering the elevator and for actuating the spray gun control switch;

Fig. '7 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. l withparts broken away; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the spraying apparatus.

This spraying apparatus is designed to spray molten solder ontopredetermined portions of the ends of Wound metallized paper condensers20 to form terminals thereon, the condensers being arranged in rows withfive rows of the condensers supported parallel and in laterally spacedrelation to each other in a xture 2li. The xture 211, which isillustrated in and forms the subject matter of a co-pending applicationof E. F. Eger, Serial No. 152,936, filed March 30, 1950, comprises,generally, a box-like structure having a pair of opposed walls 26-21disposed in engagement with the ends of the condensers 20 and providedwith a plurality of slots 29 aligned with the rows of condensers toexpose predetermined portions of the ends thereof. With the condensersstacked therein, the xture 24 is adapted to be positioned on a carriage3|, which is supported on an elevator 33 for horizontal reciprocablemovement of predetermined length to carry the ixture between the nozzles35-35 of a pair of stationary spray guns 36-36 disposed on oppositesides of the carriage 3 I. The guns 36 are mounted on a table 38 whichis centrally slotted at 39 to accommodate the carriage 3| and theelevator 33, which is supported on a suitable frame including thevertical frame plates li-4E), which in turn are secured to a base 4l.

The elevator 33, which comprises a pair of elongated plates or rails42-42 secured in spaced relation to each other on opposite sides ofspacer members o-r brackets d3, it and 45, is supported on a pair ofvertical rods 46-46 connected at their upper ends to the members llt-45and slidably mounted for vertical movement in a pair of guide bracketsll- 41 fixed to the vertical frame plate 40. The rods 43, at their lowerends are provided with cam followers 4B, which engage the upperperipheral surface of cams 453-49 secured to opposite ends of a shaft50, which is journalled in bearings l-El of the frame members 4U.

The carriage 3| comprises an elongated bar or member 55 having an uppersurface or seat 56 engageable with a side wall of the xture 24 forsupporting the xture 24 with slots 29 and the rows of condensers inhorizontal relation, and having a longitudinally extending groove orrecess 58 for receiving the laterally projecting ange portion of thefixture. The forward end of the fixture 24 is adapted to engage aplunger 6| mounted in a recess in a block 62 on the carriage, theplunger being stressed in one direction by a spring 63 t0 yieldably urgethe fixture 24 against the end E55 of a bell crank latching member 66.Pivotally mounted 6l' on the carriage, the latch member 66 is Stressedfor movement to its normal locking position by a spring 68 and has ahandle 69, by means of which it may be oscillated to release the fixture24 and permit its removal from the carriage.

Sheet metal guards 10, secured to the bar 55 and overhanging a portionof the rails 4|, protect the carriage from the solder overspray duringthe sprayingr operation, and a pan H is positioned below the spray guns35 to catch any solder which may drop from the fixture 24 or the guns. Arelatively stationary sheet metal housing 12 is adapted to engage therearwardly directed end portion of the fixture and mask a portion of thesides thereof, and a removable sheet metal cap or housing 'E3 is adaptedto engage and mask a portion of the sides at the opposite end of thefixture. The carriage 3| is provided at each end with a pair of rollers'I5-1S, which engage the upper surface of the rails 44 to rollinglysupport the carriage thereon, and the bar or body member 55 is providedwith a central portion 'i6 extending downwardly between the rails 44 toprevent lateral displacement of the carriage.

Drive means are provided for reciprocating the carriage 3| in a straightline on the rails 44 of the elevator through a predetermined distance tomove the fixture past the spray nozzles 35 so that the entire row ofcondensers therein may cross the path of the spray. A nut element 'i8pivotally connected to the carriage for oscillating movement about avertical axis extends downwardly into operative engagement with areversible lead screw 89 formed on a shaft 8| which is journalled inbearings 82-82 in the spacer members 43, 44 and 45. One end of the shaftextends beyond one end of the rails 4|, and has a gear 84 securedthereon which meshes with, and is driven through a train of gears 85from a motor 86 secured to a plate 81 formed integral with the spacermembers 42 and 43. The motor 85, the gear train 85 and the reversiblelead screw 9&1 are mounted on the elevator 83 for vertical movementtherewith, and serve to reciprocate the carriage 3| and cause thefixture 24 to horizontally traverse the nozzles 35 at any of the variouslevels at which it may be positioned.

In the normal position of the apparatus at the beginning and at the endofeach cycle of operation, the carriage 3| and the elevator 33 are inthe position shown in Fig. l with the carriage moved to the left and theelevator moved to its lowermost level. In this starting position of theapparatus, a fixture 24 on the carriage 3| is in spaced relation to thespray nozzles 35 and has its uppermost slots 29 in horizontal alignmenttherewith, so that when the carriage 3| is moved horizontally throughits first traverse in a rearward direction and the spray guns areoperating, a double spray of molten metal will be directed through theslots 29 onto portions of the ends of the condensers in the row exposedby the uppermost slots 29. Drive means are provided to raise and lowerthe elevator 33 to move the fixture so that different ones of the vepairs of slots 29 therein are aligned with the nozzles 35 in apredetermined sequence. For this purpose, the cams 49--49 are providedwith five pairs of cam and dwell surfaces 59 and 9|, respectively,arranged equiangularly about the axis of the cam shaft 59, and with thedwell surface 9| spaced at various distances from the axis thereof, thecam being operable to raise the elevator 3E and to support it at vedifferent levels.

Mechanism is provided to index the cam through an angular movement ofone-fifth of a revolution after each horizontal traverse of the carriage3|. A relatively large spur gear 95 is xed to one end of the cam shaft59 and meshes with a small gear keyed to a clutch shaft 91 which isjournalled in the bearing brackets Sii-98 support-ed on the base 4|. Theshaft 91 is fixed to one element of a one revolution clutch |95, anotherelement of which is freely rotatable on the shaft 97 and has a sprocketIGI i'lxed thereon which is continuously driven through a chain |02 froma motor |93. A pivoted T-shaped trip member |05 is spring pressed tonormal position to engage an element |95 of the one revolution clutch|99, and serves to retain the clutch in a normal inoperative ordisengaged position. The trip member |95 is connected to a solenoidactuator |53 which, when energized, is adapted to withdraw the trip |65to cause the shaft 91 to be vdriven through one revolution. A frictionbrake H9 constantly applied to the shaft 9'! serves to prevent theovertravel of the cams 49. The gears 95 and 95 have a ratio of one tofive, so that for each revolution of the shaft 91 and the gear 95, thecam shaft 59 and the cams 49 will be indexed one-fifth of a revolution,and will cause the movement either upwardly or downwardly of theelevator 33 and the carriage 3| with the fixture 24 thereon.

If the movement of the elevator 33 through a distanceJ equal to thatbetween adjacent slots 29 in the fixture 24 is designated as one step,it will be observed that the cams 49 are designed so that the elevator33 and the fixture 24, in their initial position with the uppermostslots 29 in horizontal alignment with the nozzles 35, are raised onestep in response to the first indexing movement of the cams in eachcycle of operation to align the next to the uppermost slots 29 with thenozzles 35; in response to the second indexing movement, the elevatorand xture 24 are raised two steps to align the next to the lowermostslots 29 with the nozzles 35; in response to the third indexingmovement, the elevator and the fixture are raised one step to align thelowermost slots with the nozzles 35; in response to the fourth indexingmovementy the elevator and the fixture are lowered two steps to alignthe middle slots 29 with the nozzles 35; and in response to the fifth orlast indexing movement of a complete cycle, the elevator 33 and thefixture 24 are lowered two steps and returned to their original levelwith the uppermost slots 29 horizontally aligned with the nozzles 35.

The solenoid |08 is actuated through a pair of switches H2 and H3 whichare mounted on opposite ends of the rails 44 of the elevator forvertical movement therewith. The switch H2 is adapted to be actua-ted atthe end of the advance Iof the carriage toward the rear of the machineby a trip member H4 pivotally mounted on an arm I5 secured to one sideof the rear portion of the carriage 3|, and the switch H3 is adapted tobe actuated at the end of the return traverse of the carriage by a tripmember I I6 pivotally supported on an arm ||1 fixed to one side of theforward portion of the carriage 3 I. A switch |20, sta/tionarily mountedat the rear portion of the machine on the bearing bracket 41, is adaptedto be actuated during the initial portion of the final return traverseof each cycle of operation of the carriage 3| by a trip member I2Ipivotally mounted on a supporting arm |22 secured to the opposite sideof the carriage 3| in spaced relation to the rear portion thereof torender the indexing mechanism and the spray guns 36 inoperative duringthe final return traverse of the carriage 3|. A stop switch |25,stationarily mounted at the forward portion of the machine on thebearing bracket |41, is adapted to be actuated near the end of the nalreturn traverse of each cycle of the carriage 3| by a trip member |26pivotally mounted on a supporting arm |21 which is xed to the other sideof the carriage 3| in spaced relation to its forward end.

Electrical control means is provided to control the actuation of thespray guns 25 to operate the spray only when the xture 24 traverses thespray nozzles 35 and ypresents a row of condenser-s in the path thereof.The control means includes a control switch |30 supported on avertically adjustable bracket |3I, which is mounted on the base 4I andsupports the switch |30 in a position to be actuated by an annular cam|33 which is mounted on the face of the rear cam member 49 concentricwith the axis of the shaft 50. The cam |33 has a series of ve equallyspaced -carn lobes separated by recesses which cooperate to actuate theswitch |30 in timed relation to the `op-eration of the machine. Therecesses in the cam |33 permit the norm-ally closed switch |30 to returntoits closed position to cause the actuation of the spray guns duringthe horizontal movement of the carriage past the nozzles 35, and the camlobes operate to actuate the switch |30 to open position to render thespray guns inoperative during the raising and lowering of the fixture24.

Under conditi-ons when only three rows of condensers are supported inthe fixture 24 in alignment with the uppermost, the middle and thelowermost slots 29 thereof, the switch |30 is adapted to be supportedfor actuation by another annular cam I 31 mounted on the face of the cam49. The cam |31 has a series of cam lobes adapted to open the switch |30and render the spray guns inoperative during the indexing movements ofthe cams and during the horizontal movement of the carriage when thefixture thereon does not present a row of condensers in alignment withthe spray nozzles.

As indicated in the wiring diagram Fig. 8, the traversing motor 86 andthe elevator motor |03 are connected to a power line |40 under controlof a relay |4|. The prim-ary |42 of a transformer |43 is connectedacross the power line |40, and the secondary |44 of the transformer hasone end thereof connected in series with the relay coil |146, a safetyswitch |41, the automatically operated stop switch |25, a manuallyactuable stop switch |40, which is connected through either a normallyopen manually a-ctuable start switch |49 or a pair of normally opencontacts |50 of the relay |4| to the other end of the primary |44. Thenormally open safety switch |41 is mounted on the carriage 3| and isadapted to be closed by engagement therewith of a fixture 24 properlypositioned on the carriage 3|. The normally open cam indexing switch I3is connected to one lead of the secondary |44 of the transformer, and

stop switch |43, and either the switch |49 or the conta-cts |50 to theother lead of the secondary. The normally open cam indexing switch |I2is connected to one lead of the secondary |44 and through a pair ofnormally closed contacts I53-I53 of a relay |54, the coil of thesolenoid |08, the stop switch |25, the stop switch |48 and either theswitch |49 or the contacts I50'to the other lead of the secondary.

The relay |54 is actuated from a normal inoperative position to anoperative position by a coil |56, one end of which is connected to onelead of the secondary and the other end of which is connected to onecontact of the switch |20. The other -contact of the switch |20 isconnected through the stop switches |25, |48 and either the switch |49or the contacts |50 to the other lead of the secondary |44 of thetransformer. The other end of the coil |56 is also connected to one of apair of normally open contacts |58, the other of which is connectedthrough the switches |25, |48 and |149 or contacts |50 to the secondaryof the transformer, the contacts |53 being closed in response to theactuation of the relay |54 by the closing of the switch |20 to provide aholding circuit for maintaining the relay in operative positio-n afterthe opening of switch |20. One of a third pair of contacts |60 of therelay |54 is connected through a pair of solenoid coils IGZ-|62, whichare connected in parallel to each other, to one lead of the secondary|44, and the other contact |60 is connected through the switches |30,|25, |49 and |49 or contacts |50 to the other lead of the secondary |44.The solenoids |62-If62 are associated with the spray guns 36-30 forcontrolling the actuation thereof.

In the operation of the machine, a fixture 24 lled with five rows ofcondensers in alignment with the slots 29 therein, is positioned on thecarriage 3| and held in position by the latching member 66, after whichthe removable cover member 13 may be applied to the end of the fixture.With the xture 24 in position on lthe carriage 3| as indicated in Fig.1, the safety switch |41 is actuated to closed position and the operatormay then depress the starting button or switch |49 to complete a circuitthrough, and energize the coil |46 of the relay |4| to actuate the relayand connect the motors 06 and |03 to the power line. The circuit through-the solenoid valves IGZ-|02 is also completed through the switch |30,which is closed at this time, normally closed switches |25 and |48 andcontacts |50 to energize the solenoids and actuate the guns Sii-36, andcause them to discharge a spray of molten solder from the nozzles 35-35thereof. In response to the operation of the traversing motor 06, thelead screw is caused to rotate, and the fixture 24 is advanced to theright as viewed in Fig. 1 through its first. advance traverse to carrythe uppermost row of condensers into the path of the solder sprayissuing from the spray nozzles 35. As the carriage 3| approaches the endof its advance traverse, the trip member actuates the normally open camindexing switch ||3 which completes the circuit through, and energizesthe solenoid |03 to trip the one revolution clutch.

In response to the actuation of the one revolution clutch, the elevatorcams 49 are indexed one increment to raise the elevator 33 and thefixture 24 one step to align the next to the uppermost slots of thefixture horizontally with the spray nozzles 35. During each of theindexing movements of the cams, the switch |30 is actuated to disconnectthe solenoids IGZ-I 62 from the source of power and cut off the sprayduring the interval of vertical movement of the elevator 33 and thefixture 24. At the completion of each indexing movement of the cams, theswitch |30 will be reclosed to reenergize solenoids |62. The xture 24with the next to the uppermost slots 29 thereof in horizontal alignmentwith the spray nozzles 35 is moved horizontally to the left as viewed inFig. 1 on its return traverse to carry the row of condensers inalignment therewith past the line of spray issuing from the nozzle 35.As the carriage approaches the end of its return traverse, the tripmember I I4 actuates the normally open indexing switch IIZ, and closesthe circuit through, and energizes the solenoid |618 to again index thecams 49 and cause the elevator 33 and the xture 24 to be raised twosteps to `an elevation in which the slots 29 next to the lowermost slotsof the fixture 24 are in horizontal alignment with the spray nozzles 35.The carriage 3| and the fixture 24 are then advanced toward the rear ofthe machine causing the molten solder to be sprayed through the slots 29onto the exposed portions of the row of condensers aligned therewith,and near the end of this movement, the trip member ||5 again ac'tuatesthe indexing switch I|3 to close the circuit through, and actuatessolenoid |03 to again index the cams 49 and cause the elevator and thefixture 24 to be raised one step. The carriage 3| and fixture 24 aremoved through a return traverse causing the molten solder to be sprayedonto the end portions of the row of condensers exposed through thelowermost slots 29 in the fixture, and as the carriage nears the end ofits return traverse, the trip member I I4 again actuates the indexingswitch I2 to close the circuit through, and energize the solenoid |08 totrip the one revolution clutch and again index the cams 49 and cause theelevator and the nxture 24 to be lowered through two steps.

At this elevation of the xture, the middle slots 29 are in alignmentwith the nozzles 35, and as the carriage and the fixture are movedtoward fthe rear of the machine, the molten solder is sprayed throughthe slots 29 onto the exposed portions of the condensers in the rowaligned therewith, and as the carriage approaches the end of its travel,the pivoted trip member IIS again actua'tes the indexing switch I I3which closes and energizes the solenoid |08 to trip the one revolutionclutch, and again index the cams 49 to lower the elevator 33 and thefixture 24 to their initial and lowermost elevation. The carriage 3| andxture are then moved on their nal return traverse of the cycle ofoperation, and at the beginning of this return traverse, the trip member|2| actuates the normally opened switch |20 to closed position tocomplete the circuit through the relay coil |56 and cause the actuationof the relay |54. In response to the actuation of the relay |54, thecircuit to the solenoids I62-I52 controlling 'the spray guns is brokenrendering the spray guns inoperative; the circuit to the indexing switchi I2 is broken rendering the indexing means inoperative, and a holdingcircuit across the contacts 58 is established 'to maintain the relay inits operative position. As the carriage 3| approaches the end of its nalreturn traverse, the trip member |28 actuates the closed switch |25 toopen position to break the circuit to the relay coil |46 and disconnectthe motors 8B and |03 from the power line terminating the cycle ofoperation of the machine. The momentum of the driving mechanism movesthe carriage 3| a short distance after fthe motors have beendisconnected from the power line, and causes the trip member |26 todisengage itself from the switch |25 and allows the switch to restoreitself to its normally closed position. When the carriage 3| has come torest, the xture 24 with the solder sprayed condensers therein may beremoved from the carriage, leaving the spraying machine in readiness foranother spraying operation.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and fallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A spraying apparatus comprising a stationary spray gun, a carriagefor holding articles to be sprayed, an elevator having rails forsupporting said carriage for horizontal movement thereon to guide saidarticles in the path of spray from said gun, drive means forreciprocating said carriage, cam means for raising and lowering saidelevator from and to a starting elevation and supporting said carriageat a plurality of elevations during the upward and the downward movementof the elevator in response to actuation of said cam means throughsuccessive increments, and drive means operable in response to themovement of said carriage in opposite directions for actuating said cammeans through successive increments.

2. A spraying apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality ofarticles supported in a fixture comprising a carriage for holding saidfixture and articles therein in predetermined position on the carriage,an elevator having guide means for supporting said carriage forhorizontal reciprocable movement in a predetermined path, drive means onsaid elevator operatively connected to said carriage for reciprocatingsaid carriage through a predetermined distance on said elevator, a spraygun stationarily mounted adjacent the path of travel of the xture onsaid carriage operable for spraying material onto the articles movedinto the path of spray, supporting means guiding said elevator forvertical movement, rotary cams for raising and lowering said elevatorfrom and to a starting elevation and supporting said elevator in aplurality of elevations in a predetermined sequence in response toactuation thereof through successive increments, normally inoperativecam drive means for indexing said cams through successive increments,and control means operable in response to the movement in oppositedirections of said carriage for rendering said cam drive means operable-to index said cams through successive increments.

3. A spraying apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality ofarticles supported in a fixture comprising a carriage for holding saidixture and the articles therein in a predetermined position, an elevatorhaving guide rails for supporting said carriage for horizontalreciprocation thereon, means for guiding said elevator for verticalmovement, carriage drive means for reciprocating said carriage through apredetermined distance on said elevator, a spray gun stationarilymounted adjacent the path of movement of the fixture on said carriageand operable to spray material transversely to the direction of movementof said carriage onto the articles thereon, cam means for raising saidelevator from and lowering said elevator to an initial level and forsupporting said elevator at a plurality of levels in response toactuation of the cam means through successive increments, cam drivemeans including a clutch for indexing said cams through successiveincrements, control means operable at a predetermined point in theadvance and return movements of said carriage to actuate said clutch tocause said cam drive means to index said cams -through successiveincrements, and spray gun control means for rendering said spray gunoperative during selected portions of the travel of said carriage.

4. An apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality of articlessupported in a fixture comprising a carriage for holding said xture andthe articles therein in a predetermined position, an elevator havingguide rails for supporting said carriage for horizontal reciprocationthereon, a reversible lead screw mounted on said elevator, drive meansincluding a motor mounted on said carriage for rotating said lead screw,connector means on said carriage engaging said lead screw for impartingreciprocatory movement to said carriage in response to rotation of saidlead screw, a spray gun, frame means stationarily mounting said spraygun adjacent the path of movement of said fixture on said carriage, saidspray gun being adapted to spray material onto the articles in saidxture during the reciprocation thereof, guides on said frame means forguiding said elevator for vertical movement, cam followers on saidelevator, a, cam shaft mounted in said frame means, cams mounted on saidcam shaft having a plurality of cam and dwell surfaces for raising andlowering said elevator from and to an initial starting level andsupporting said elevator at a plurality of levels in a predeterminedsequence in response to actuation of said cams through successiveincrements, normally inoperative drive means for indexing said camsthrough successive increments, and control means including a pair ofelements mounted on said elevator and engageable with said carriage atpredetermined points during the movement thereof in opposite directionsfor rendering said drive means operable to index said cams throughsuccessive increments.

5. An apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality of articlessupported in a xture comprising a carriage for holding said xture andthe articles therein in a predetermined position on said carriage, anelevator having guide rails for supporting said carriage for horizontalreciprocation thereon, a reversible lead screw mounted on said carriage,drive means including a motor mounted on said carriage for rotating saidlead screw, connecting means on said carriage engaging said lead screwfor imparting reciproca.- tory movement to said carriage through apredetermined distance in response to rotation of said lead screw, aspray gun, frame means stationarily mounting said spray gun adjacent thepath of movement of said fixture on said carriage, said spray gun beingadapted to spray material onto the articles in said fixture during thereciprocation thereof with said carriage, guides on said frame means forguiding said elevator for vertical movement, cam followers on saidelevator, a cam shaft mounted in Isaid frame means, cams mounted on saidcam shaft having a plurality of cam surfaces and dwell surfaces forraising said elevator from and lowering said elevator to an initialstarting elevation and supporting said elevator at a plurality ofelevations in a predetermined sequence in response to actuation of saidcams through successive increments, normally inoperative drive means foractuating said cam shaft and cams through successive increments,electrically actuated control means including a pair of switches mountedon said elevator and engageable with said carriage at predeterminedpoints during the movement thereof in opposite directions for renderingsaid drive means operable to actuate said cams through successiveincrements, spray gun control means including a switch operable toactuate said gun, and cam means on said cam shaft for actuating saidswitch to cause the actuation of said spray gun in predetermined timedrelation to the operation of said machine.

6. A spraying apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality ofarticles supported in the fixture comprising a spray gun, frame meansmounting said spray gun in a fixed position, a carriage for supportingsaid xture and the articles therein in a predetermined position on saidcarriage, an elevator having rails for supporting said carriage forhorizontal movement thereon to guide the articles in the xture past saidspray gun, a reversible lead screw mounted on said elevator operativelyconnected to said carriage for reciprocating said carriage through anadvance and a return traverse in response to the rotation of said leadscrew, drive means including an electric motor mounted on said elevatorfor rotating said reversible lead screw, members on said frame means forguiding said elevator for vertical movement, cam followers on saidelevator, a cam shaft mounted in said frame means, cams mounted on saidcam shaft engageablewith said cam followers and having portions thereoffor raising and lowering said elevator to and from an initial elevationand supporting said elevator at a plurality of elevations in response tothe indexing of said cams through successive increments, cam drive meansincluding a continuously operating motor and a one revolution clutchoperatively connected to said cam shaft for indexing said cams throughsuccessive increments, electrically actuated indexing control meansincluding a pair of switches mounted on opposite ends of said elevatorand actuable by said carriage in response to movement thereof inopposite directions operable to effect the actuation of said onerevolution clutch and the indexing of said cams through successiveincrements, means including a switch actuable by said carriage duringthe initial portion of the return traverse at its initial elevation forrendering said indexing control means inoperable and said spray guninoperable during the return traverse of said carriage at said initialelevation, and circuit means for connecting said motors to a source ofpower and including a switch actuable by said carriage at the end of itsreturn traverse at its initial elevation for disconnecting said motorsfrom said source of power.

7. An apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality of articlessupported in a xture comprising a carriage for holding the fixture andthe articles therein in a predetermined position, an elevator havingguide rails for supporting said carriage for horizontal reciprocationthereon, means for guiding said elevator for vertical movement, carriagedrive means for reciprocating said carriage through a predetermineddistance on said elevator in alternate advance and return movements, aspray gun stationarily mounted adjacent the path of movement of thenxture on said carriage and operable to spray material onto the articlesmoved into the p'ath of said spray, rotatable 'cam means for raisingsaid elevator from and lowering said elevator to a starting level andfor supporting said elevator at a plurality of levels in response toactuation of said cam means through successive increments, normallyinoperative drive means for actuating said cams through successiveincrements, control means including a pair of elements mounted on saidelevator and engageable with said carriage at predetermined pointsduring the advance and return movements thereof for rendering said drivemeans operative to actuate said cams through successive increments,spray gun control means for rendering said spray guns inoperative duringthe actuation of said cam means, and means including an elementengageable with said carriage during the initial portion of the returnmovement of said carriage on said starting level to render said controlmeans inoperative to effect the actuation of said cams and to render thespray gun inoperative during said return movement of said carriage onsaid starting level.

8. A spraying apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality ofarticles supported in a fixture comprising a carriage for holding saidfixture and the articles therein in a predetermined position on saidcarriage, an elevator having guide rails for supporting said carriagefor horizontal reciprocation thereon, means for guiding said elevatorfor vertical movement, carriage drive means on said elevator including amotor for reciprocating said carriage in alternate advance and returnmovements, a spray gun stationarily mounted adjacent the path ofmovement of a fixture on said carriage and operable to spray materialonto the articles moved in the path of said spray, rotatable cam meansengageable with said elevator and having portions for raising andlowering said elevator from and to an initial level and for supportingsaid elevator at a plurality of levels in a predetermined sequence inresponse to actuation of said cam means through successive increments,cam drive means including a motor and a normally disengaged clutch forindexing said cam means through successive increments, electricallyactuated control means including a pair of switches mounted on saidelevator and actuable by said carriage at predetermined points in itsadvance and return movements for eiecting the engagement of said clutchand the indexing of said cam means through successive increments, spraygun control means operable in timed relation to the indexing of said cammeans for rendering said spray guns operative during predeterminedportions of the movements of said carriage, electrically actuated meansincluding a switch actuable by said carriage during the initial portionof the return movement thereof on said initial level to render saidspray gun inoperative and said electrically actuated control meansinoperative during said return movement of the carriage, and circuitmeans operable for connecting said motor to a source of power andincluding a normally closed switch actuable by said carriage during thenal portion of the return movement vthereof on said initial level fordisconnecting said motor from said source of power.

9. A spraying apparatus for spraying material onto a plurality ofarticles supported in a fixture comprising a carriage for holding saidxture and the articles therein in a predetermined position, an elevatorhaving guide rails for supporting said carriage for horizontalreciprocation thereon, a reversible lead screw mounted on said elevatoroperatively connected to said carriage for reciprocating said carriageon said elevator through advance and return movements in response torotation of said lead screw, drive means including a motor mounted onsaid carriage for rotating said lead screw, a spray gun, frame meansmounting said spray gun adjacent the path of movement of a fixture onsaid carriage, said spray gun being adapted to spray material onto thearticles in said fixture during the reciprocation thereof, guides onsaid frame means for guiding said elevator for vertical movement, camfollowers on said elevator, a cam shalt mounted in said frame means,cams mounted on said cam shaft having a plurality of cam and dwellsurfaces for raising and lowering said elevator from and to a startinglevel and supporting said elevator at a plurality of levels in apredetermined sequence in response to actuation of said cams throughsuccessive increments', normally inoperative drive means including anelectric motor operable for actuating said cam shaft and said camsthrough successive increments, electrically actuated control meansincluding a pair of switches mounted on said elevator and actuable bysaid carriage at predetermined points during the advance and returnmovements thereof for rendering said drive means operable to index saidcams through successive increments, means including a cam mounted forrotation on said shaft and a switch actuable by said cam operable forrendering said spray guns alternately operative and inoperative in timedrelation to the actuation of said carriage, means including a switchactuable by said carriage during the initial portion of the returnmovement thereof at said starting level for rendering said indexingmeans and said spray gun inoperative during the return movement of saidcarriage at said starting level, and circuit means for connecting saidmotor to a source of current and including a switch actuable by saidcarriage during the iinal portion of the return movement of saidcarriage at said starting level for disconnecting said motor from saidsource of current.

10. A spraying apparatus comprising a stationary spray gun, a carriagefor holding articles to be sprayed arranged in a plurality of levels onsaid carriage, an elevator having rails for supporting said carriage forhorizontal movement thereon, drive means for reciprocating said carriagepast said gun, means for raising and lowering said elevator and saidcarriage successively through a plurality of elevations during theupward and the downward movement of the elevator to position thearticles at the various levels on said carriage for movement through thepath of spray from said gun, and control means operable in response tothe movement of said carriage in opposite directions for causing theactuation of said last means to move said carriage through successiveelevations.

11. A spraying apparatus comprising a stationary spray gun, a carriagefor holding articles to be sprayed arranged in a plurality of levels onsaid carriage, an elevator having rails for supporting said carriage forhorizontal movement thereon, drive means for reciprocating said carriagepast said spray gun, means for raising and lowering said elevator andsaid carriage to a plurality of elevations during the upward and thedownward movement of the elevator to position the articles at thevarious levels on said carriage successively in horizontal alignmentwith sid spray gun for movement through the path of spray from said gun,control means operable in response to the movement of said carriage inopposite directions for causing the actuation of said means for raisingand lowering said elevator through successive elevations, and spray guncontrol means for rendering said spray gun operative during selectedportions of the travel of said carriage.

EDWARD F. EIGER.

CLARENCE R. RASMUSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Gschwind Jan. 23, 1872 BozarthJan. 17, 1933 Griffin July 10, 1934 'I'eodonno Aug. 27, 1940 KlamrntAug. 12, 1941 Hopkins Mar. 10, 1942

